Well-shooting-torpedo apparatus



A. G. ST'OOPS.

WELL SHOOTING TORPEDO APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 15, 1920.

1,382,395. Patented June 21, 1921.7

ATTORNEY.

AIiBERT G. STOOPS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WELL-SHOOTING-TORPEDO APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters iatent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application. filed November 15,}920. Serial No. 424,126.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. STOOPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Well-Shooting-Torpedo Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the type of devices that are comprised in the class of torpedoes that are designed to be lowered into a well which may have been drilled to obtain oil, and when it is necessaryor desirable to shoot the well as the operation of causing an explosion in the well is commonly termed, the invention having reference more particularly to a torpedo shell and an anchor for the torpedo of the character above-mentioned. I

An object ofthe invention is to provide an improved torpedo shell which. shall .be so constructed as to permit the torpedo to be safely lowered into a well to be exploded.

Another object is to provide an improved torpedo shell which shall be of such construction as to permit it to be quickly and safely char ed" with an explosive, such as nitro-glycerm, and to be handled without being liable to he accidentally exploded.

, A further object is'to provide a torpedo shell which may be constructed economically and at moderate cost, and which shall have safety guides to guard against the torpedo being vlolently jolted in its descent into a well with a explosion.

A still further object is to rovide an improved and efiicient yet not costly anchor for a well-shooting torpedo which shall be so-constructed as to be adapted to be used either as a plain anchor or as a loaded anchor in connection with a torpedo, and which shall have guides thereon to'guard the anchor when loaded to prevent premature explosion during its descent into" well.

With the above-mentioned and other ob-' jects in view, the invention consists-in a well-shooting torpedo apparatus comprising a novel shell and a novel anchor .adapted to be used in connection with either the lowerend or the upper end of the shell; and the invention consists also further in the parts and combinations and arrangepossibility of causing premature arranged on the under side of' the bottom ments of parts as hereinafter particularly descr bed and further defined in the accompanymg claims.

Referr ng to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved torpedo shell and the. improved anchor connected with the lower end of'the shell; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the improved shell and-the anchor device connected wlth the top of the shell,as when used as a loaded anchor; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of the torpedo shell as preferably constructed and the anchor connected with the lower end of the shell; Fig. 41s a longitudinal central section of the torpedo shell slightly modified and the anchor arranged as a loaded anchor in connection with the top of the shell; Fig. 5 is a top plan of F g. 1 slightly enlar ed; and, Fig. 6 is the bottom end view of ig. 1 slightly enlarged. k

imilar reference characters in the dilfeifi ent fi res of the drawings indicate correspondmg elements or features of constructlon herein referred to in detail.

A practical embodiment of the invention comprises a hollowcylindrical shell 1 which preferably is non-metallic, especially for the largersizes of torpedoes, heavy straw-board or book cover board being suitable material of which to. make the shell: A flat bottom 2 is arranged against one end of'the shell, and it has a flange 3 embracin the outer side of the shell,; and 'prefera 1y a ferrule 4 is arranged against the inner side of the shell and may be suitably secured to the bottom. A suitable non-metallic guard 5 is provided which is of plate form and 2, the guard preferably being composed of vulcamzed fiber and being larger diametrically than the'bottom' extends outward beyond the bottom; and a metallic plate'or dlsk 6 is arran ed against the under side of the guard. 3 arranged on the upper end of the shell 1 and has a flange 8 embracing the outer side of the shell, and preferably a ferrule 4 is arranged on the inner side of the shell and may be suitably secured to the to ring. A non-metallic guard 9.0f annular orm is arranged upon the top 7. A funnel 10 is arranged in the guard and the to ring, and it has a supportingflange 11 t ereon that is seated upon the annular guard. The

11 annular top or ring 7 is 1 the form 1 of a hollow tapcredguide 22 having a flange 23 on 1 its. larger end which is seated againstlthe plate. 6 and suitably se:- 1 cured thereto, asby means of a screw ring and the 'flange A suitable number of tie i i rods 12 ,113, 14 and 15; extend through the i ""shelll and alsoithroughltheplate 6. Th'e; tops of two'ot the tierod's have eyes 16 and 17" respectively that are: adaptedto operate. 1 asheads upon the flange l l tosecurethe 1 adjacent partsjto theshelh'and a bai11 8 is connected "with theeyes. Eachofthe remaining tie rods has a nut -l9-on -its--upperportion engaging the flange 11, and a nut 1 9' on the lower portion thereof engaging fthe late 6; 1 1 Besides thev opening in: the smal a meet ithe funnel, the wallet the; funnel preferably has: apertures 20 therein: to'permitfrapid "flow of nitroglycerin 'through the funnehthe latter preferably 1 1 f having vent holes 21: in:

of thewallthereof.-f 1 1 1 The lower end of the torpedo shell has a tapered or conical endpiece preferably in 24 secured :to the inner side of the guide "andconnected with a screw ring 25 secured:

1 to the plate 6. -The smaller end ofthe uide has a collar 26' thereon beyond which ex? 1 tends a neck having screw-threads 27. 5 An anchor isprovi ded for supporting: the tor; 1 pedoat a suitable distance above the bottom ofthe Welland maybe composed of any re- 1 quired 1 number of sections, 1 each section, 1 preferably being composed of sheet metal or tubing, tin plate or galvanized iron in some cases being suitable metal. One section 28 is provided which has screw-threads 29 to engage the screw-threads 27, and a flange 30 on the end of the section engaging a gasket 31 arranged against the collar 26. The'section has another collar 32 a short distance from its opposite end, and has also screw- I threads 33 extending from the end. An-

other section 34' is provided which has screw-threads 35 to engage the screw-threads 33, and also a flange 36 engaging a gasket 37 arranged against the flange 32. The sec- 1 tion 34 has a tapered hollow guide 38 thereon to smoothly guide the section along the wall of the well and prevent the section from being bent. The section has a collar 39 thereon below the guide'and screw-threads 40 beyond the collar. Another section 41 is provided and has screw-threads 42 to engage the screw-threads 40, and has also a flange 43 to engage a gasket 44 arranged againstthe collar 39, the lower portion of the section having a collar 45 and screw-threads 46 beyond the collar. A lower section 47 is provided which has screw-threads 48 to engage the screw-threads 46, and has also a flange 49 to engage a gasket 50 arranged against the collar 45. The lower portion of the anchor has a bottom 51 therein which preferably is secured in the lower portion the upper portion secured; to. the shell 53, the lug-bolts 1 ex- 0f the section 41. A. hollow conical or ta- 1 peringguide 52 is secured :atits smaller end 1; totheend portionof section 471to guidethej lower end of the anchorwhen descending in 1 Q 1 I 1 1 I yln some casesthc torpedo may havea me, I. tallic shell: 53havingflanges 54 and 5501i its 1 1 p I o ends, ,and anon-metallic uardu56 isarranged :against'the lower ange54and ism adapted to: performthe 1 function of a pack ingring against which afiat bottom 5715 arranged.- The guard ,56' isof suitable diameter' soas, toextendoutward: beyondthe flange: 54. Lug-bolts58 havecbase plates 5 9 1 8'0 1, tending through the flange and the guard, 1 .1 1, and also through thefiange 23 0f the guide 1 r 1 1 1 22,'andeach lugbolt hasanut 60 thereon 1 v 1 -engaging 1the fian1ge 1 I A, non-metallic guard ring 61, is arranged: on the flange 55, p 1 I the funnel shaped top 10 isarrangedin the, 1 upper portion of the shell with its flange i1 1 uponthe guard ring, and lug-bolts 625a. 1 I I 1 I cured to the shell have nuts :63 securing: the. 1 1 ad'acent: parts to the, shell, 1 I I he guide 52 being tapered and adapted to be seated inthe funnel lQandtheanchor adapted to be charged with. an, explosive 1 lsuch as nitro-glycerin,theanchor -is,pr0 vided with. a funnel 641 to facilitate pouring 1 I of the explosive into the anchor, the funnel, 1 j having a neck :65 on which 'isacollar 66 and alsoscrew-threadsyfilxto engagethe 1' screw-threads29of a section thathas' the] ik 1 flange 30 whereby to force the gasket 1 3:1 to

the collar 66. The largerend portion or top of the tunnel 64 is provided with ears 68 and 69 to which a bail 70 is connected.

In practical use after the shell is charged with a quantity of explosive, the plain anchor being connected to the. guide 22, the torpedo and its anchor are lowered 'into1a well, the guards on the torpedo preventing contact of metallic parts of the torpedo with the metallic casing in the well, thus lessening danger of accidental explosion. After the torpedo has passed down beyond the well casing, the guides on the anchor and the guide 22 may encounter rough or jagged wall portions in the well but will not catch and be obstructed thereon, the tapered guides smoothly sliding past the jagged rock wall portions and v protecting the torpedo bottom'from damage until the anchor is stopped on the bottom ofthe well. When it is determined that the torpedo is in proper position, it is exploded by one of the well known devices, such as a jack-squib. In case it is desired to use a loaded anchor and explode it, the torpedo is lowered into the the loaded anchor is lowered by means of ilOia f f its bail until the uide 52 becomes seated,

in the funnel 10. K jack-squib may be lowcred into the funnel 64 and 'be caused to 5 Ti I metallic guard arranged together face to face opposite to one end of the shell, the guard extending outward beyond the bottom, clamping means to secure the bottom and the guard together to the shell, and a topipart secured to the opposite end of the shell.

2. A well-shootin torpedo apparatus including a hollow cy indrical shell, a bottom and a non-metallic guard having each a flat portion arranged together face to face against one end of the shell, means to secure the flat portions of the bottom and the guard together to the shell, a top part and a non-metallic guard having each a flat portion arranged together face to face against the opposite end of the shell, and means to secure the flat portions of the top part and the guard together to the shell.

3. A well-shooting torpedo apparatus including a hollow cylindrical shell, a top part and a guard having each a portion arranged opposite to one end of the shell and together secured to the. shell, a bottom and aguide arranged together on the opposite end of the shell and secured to the shell, the guide being hollow and covering and protecting the bottom and having a screwthreaded neck thereon, and a hollow anchor detachably screwed to the neck of the guide and provided with a tapered guide extending about and secured to the anchor.

4. A well-shooting torpedo apparatus including a hollow cylindrical shell, a funnel in one end of the shell and secured thereto, a guard connected to the funnel and the shell, a bottom and a hollow tapered guide and also a guard secured together to the opposite end of the shell, the guide covering and protecting the bottom and having a neck extending from the smaller portionthereof, a tubular anchor having a hollow tapered guide encircling the anchor and secured at its smaller end to the anchor adj acent to one end thereof, the anchor having a bottom therein, the guide corresponding in contour to the funnel, and a funnel removably connected to the opposite end of the anchor.

5. A well-shootin torpedo apparatus including a hollow cylindrical shell, a bottom and a non-metallic guard and also a ta ered guide on the lower end of the shell and rmly secured together to the shell, the guard extending outward beyond the bottom, the guide being hollow and covering and protecting the bottom and having a screwthreaded neck on the smaller portion thereof, a tubular anchor screw-threaded at one end correspondingly with the screw-threaded neck and having a hollow tapered guide encircling the anchor and fixedly secured at its smaller end to the anchor, a flat annular non-metallic guard arranged upon the upper 6. A well-shooting torpedo apparatus including a non-metallic hollow shell, a bottom and a non-metallic guard secured together to one end of the shell, the guard projecting beyond the outermost side portion of the shell, a separate hollow tapered guide firmly secured to the bottom and the guard, the guide covering and protecting the bottom, a funnel and a non-metallic guard secured together to the opposite end of the shell, the latter guard projecting beyond the outermost side portion of the shell, and a bail connected with the larger portion of the funnel.

7. In a well-shooting torpedo apparatus, the combination of a hollow non-metallic cylindrical shell, a bottom and a non-metallic guard arranged together on oIie end of the shell, the guard extending outward beyond the shell and the bottom, means connected with the bottom and the guard and the shell securing the bottom and the guard together and to the shell, an annular nonmetallic guard seated on the upper end of the shell and extending inward and outward beyond the shell, a funnel arranged in the upper portion of the shell and havin a base flange supported upon the annu ar guard, and means securing the base flange alnd the annular guard together and to the s 1e 1.

8. In a well-shooting torpedo apparatus; the combination of a plurality of tubular sections having screw-threaded end' portions to be connected one to another, one of said sections having abottom therein to support an explosive charge, a hollow tapered guide encircling one of said sections and having its smaller end secured to the section between its ends, a hollow tapered guide encircling another one of said sections and vhaving its smaller end secured to the sec- -end of the shell and extending outward be- 1 so I a bottom on the lower end of the shell and 4 having a flange embracing the outer side of the shell, a ferrule on the inner side of the shell and connected to the bottom, a nonmetallic guard arranged under the bottom and extending outward beyond the bottom, a disk arranged under the guard and having a screw-ring fixed thereon, a top member connected to the upper end of the shell, two tie-rods arranged within the shell and ex-. tending through the top member and also through the bottom and the disk, the tie-rods having eyes thereon respectively connected with the top member, nuts on the tie-rods respectively in connection with the disk, a bail connected to said eyes, and a hollow tapered guide having a flange seated on said disk and having also a screw-ring engaging said firstdescribed screw-ring.

10. In a well-shooting torpedo apparatus,

the combination of a hollow cylindrical shell, a bottom connected to the lower end of the shell, an annular top member seated upon the upper end of the shell and having a flange embracing the outer side of the shell,

a ferrule on the inner side of the shell and connected to the top member, an annular non-metallic guard seated upon the top member and extending outward beyond the shell, a funnel arranged in said member and in' said guard and having a base =flange seated upon said guard, the

' In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. ALBERT G. ST'OOPS.

Witnesses:

E. '1. 811mm, M. D. STEEIE. 

